Crossing guard Krystyna Naprawa struck and killed in Queens
NEW YORK - A woman who worked as a crossing guard for a decade in Queens was struck and killed Friday morning in Woodhaven.
Distraught loved ones hugged first responders at the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, where 63-year-old Krystyna Naprawa was struck and killed by a dump truck.
"I'm shocked. She was a nice person," Woodhaven resident Stephanie Peppel said.
Police said Friday morning around 8 a.m. Naprawa was working as a school crossing guard when she was hit. Parents said she was always friendly and made sure their kids got to school safely.
One woman said she just talked to her moments before Naprawa was killed.
"It's sad. She always says hi to me, hit to my kids. And she says I'll see you tomorrow," the woman said.
Police said their preliminary investigation sows Naprawa was in the crosswalk when she was struck by a red dump truck operated by 39-year-old Hector Yepes. Investigators said Yepes was making a right turn onto Atlantic Avenue.
He remained at the scene and was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and exercise due care.
Naprawa's familyu didn't want to speak on camera, but CBS New York's Natalie Duddridge spoke with her friends, who say Naprawa moved here from Poland 40 years ago.
"She was a very nice lady. She had two children, good family," one woman said.
"She's the best. She's the best. Very, very dedicated person," said another.
Loved ones tell us Naprawa lived with her daughter and son-in-law in Howard Beach and loved cooking and gardening.
Police held a dignified transfer, transporting her body to the medical examiner's office in Manhattan.
"Anyone that comes to their job should return in one piece, in the same condition, back to their family," Donald Nesbitt of School Crossing Guard Union Local 372 said.
Local 372 said with the busy and dangerous intersection near a school, there should be four crossing guards, not just one. They're also calling for speed bumps to be installed.
"Krystyna Naprawa represented the best of our school crossing guards and the NYPD," Mayor Eric Adams said. "Her commitment to her job and community did not go unnoticed and it shows from the outpouring of love."
"Our department is in mourning today, as we grieve the loss of one of our own," NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said. "School Crossing Guard Krystyna Naprawa, who had served with the New York City Police Department for nearly 13 years, dedicated her life to protecting the most vulnerable among us."
Caban said Naprawa's death "is a tragic reminder of the very real dangers our school crossing guards face in the performance of their duty. But despite these risks, she still chose to put the safety of others above her own."
Duddridge called the dump truck company - Manolos - to ask about the driver's record. They confirmed they were aware of the collision but made no other comment.
